There’s a new place to play in UAB’s neighborhood. The highly anticipated Railroad Park opened on September 18, offering 21 acres of green space a few blocks from campus that connect UAB with downtown Birmingham. First envisioned 30 years ago, the park features grassy lawns, a lake and streams, plazas and performance spaces, several playgrounds, and an elevated trail that invites train-watching.

UAB President Carol Garrison calls the park an “exciting development” for both Birmingham and UAB. “It will be a fun and relaxing place for UAB students, faculty, and staff to exercise, dine, and enjoy the city. What had been only a series of abandoned lots is now a vibrant new attraction, marking another significant step in revitalizing downtown and building a stronger community.”

Several UAB faculty and staff serve on the board of directors for the Railroad Park Foundation, which built and manages the park in collaboration with the city of Birmingham. Future plans call for extending the green corridor westward to I-65 and eastward to Sloss Furnaces; streets connecting the park to UAB will also get sidewalks, trees, lighting, and other improvements to make them pedestrian-friendly.